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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Israel Releasing Impounded Palestinian Tax Revenue | Israel Releasing Impounded Palestinian Tax Revenue |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| JERUSALEM — Israel announced on Friday that it would release three months’ worth of tax revenue to the Palestinian Authority that have accrued since the Israelis suspended the payments in response to the Palestinian move to join the International Criminal Court. | |
| The announcement appeared to partly reflect a desire by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to ease tensions with the Palestinians and the United States. But it also was a response to a recommendations by his own advisers, who said the impoundment of the revenue was effectively a danger to Israel’s own security. | |
| Mr. Netanyahu approved the recommendation of his defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, and of the Israeli military and the Shin Bet internal security agency to transfer the withheld funds “based on humanitarian concerns and in overall consideration of Israel’s interests at this time,” according to a statement from Mr. Netanyahu’s office. | |
| Israel collects more than $100 million a month on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. Its impoundment of the money had intensified the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | Israel collects more than $100 million a month on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. Its impoundment of the money had intensified the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |
| The money, collected in December, January and February, will be transferred minus payments for services rendered to the Palestinian population such as electricity, water and hospitalization, Israel said. | |
| Mr. Netanyahu said in the statement, “Given the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, one must act responsibly and with due consideration alongside a determined struggle against extremist elements.” | Mr. Netanyahu said in the statement, “Given the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, one must act responsibly and with due consideration alongside a determined struggle against extremist elements.” |
| A spokesman for Mr. Netanyahu originally indicated that the regular transfer of tax revenue would be resumed, but he later clarified that only the money accrued up until the end of February would be transferred. | |
| It is possible that Israeli officials are waiting to see whether the Palestinians l file a complaint against Israel in the International Criminal Court once their accession to the court is finalized on April 1. | |
| The tax revenue makes up a significant portion of the Palestinian budget. In the last few months the Palestinian Authority has been able to pay only partial salaries to its tens of thousands of employees, and senior Israeli military officials have warned that the economic crisis could destabilize the occupied West Bank. | The tax revenue makes up a significant portion of the Palestinian budget. In the last few months the Palestinian Authority has been able to pay only partial salaries to its tens of thousands of employees, and senior Israeli military officials have warned that the economic crisis could destabilize the occupied West Bank. |
| The decision to transfer the money came after Mr. Netanyahu’s conservative Likud Party won a decisive victory in the March 17 elections and amid a worsening crisis in Israel’s relations with the Obama administration. Tensions have arisen in part over contradictory statements by Mr. Netanyahu about his support for a Palestinian state, a cornerstone of American policy in the Middle East. |